Orson Pratt

“ If he went to the religious denominations to seek information, each one pointed to its particular tenants saying -- "This is the way, walk ye in it;" while at the same time, the doctrines of each were, in many respects, in direct opposition to one another.
It also occurred to his mind, that God was not the author of but one doctrine, and therefore could not acknowledge but one denomination as his church; and that such denomination must be a people who believe and teach that one doctrine, whatever it may be, and build upon the same. ”

“ We believe that all mankind, by the transgression of their first parents and not by their own sins, were brought un-der the curse and penalty of that transgression which consigned them to an eternal banishment from the presence of God, and their bodies to an endless sleep in the dust never more to rise, and their spirits to endless misery under the power of Satan ”

“ TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES
"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. ”

“ This is the reason why ALL men are redeemed from the grave. This is the reason that the spirits of ALL men are restored to their bodies. This is the reason that ALL men are redeemed from their first banishment, and restored into the presence of God, and this is the reason that the Saviour said, John xii 32 “If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw ALL men unto me.” ”

“ But on the other hand, the Lamanites, because of the hardness of their hearts, brought down many judgments upon their own heads. Nevertheless, they were not destroyed as a nation, but the Lord God sent forth a curse upon them, and they became a dark, loathsome, and filthy people. Before their rebellion, they were white and exceedingly fair, like the Nephites, but the Lord God cursed them in their complexions, and they were changed to a dark color, and they became a wild, savage, and ferocious people, being great enemies to the Nephites, whom they south by every means to destroy. ”

“ We learn from this very ancient history that at the confusion of languages, when the Lord scattered the people upon all the face of the earth, the Jaredites, being a righteous people, obtained favour in the sight of the Lord and were not confounded. And because of their righteousness, the Lord miraculously led them from the tower to the great ocean, where they were commanded to build vessels, in which they were marvelously brought across the great deep to the shores of North America. ”

“ These are the first conditions of the gospel. All who comply with them receive forgiveness of sins, and are made partakers of the Holy Ghost. Through these conditions, they become the adopted sons and daughters of God. Through this process, they are born, again first of water, and then of the spirit, and become children of the kingdom—heirs of God—saints of the most High—the church of the first born—the elect people, and heirs to a celestial inheritance, eternal in the presence of God. ”

“ We believe that through the sufferings, death, and atonement of Jesus Christ all mankind, without one exception, are to be completely and fully redeemed, both body and spirit, from the endless banishment and curse, to which they were consigned, by Adam’s transgression; and that this universal salvation and redemption of the whole human family from the endless penalty of the original sin, is effected, without any conditions whatsoever on their part ”

“ We believe that the first condition to be complied with on the part of sinners is, to believe in God, and in the sufferings and death of his Son Jesus Christ, to atone for the sins of the whole world, and in his resurrection and ascension on high, to appear in the presence of his Father, to make intercessions for the children of men, and in the Holy Ghost, which is given to all who obey the gospel. ”

“ We believe, that the penalty of this second law can have no effect upon persons who have not had the privilege, in this life, of becoming acquainted therewith; for although the light that is in them, teaches them good and evil, yet that light does not teach them the law against doing evil, nor the penalty thereof. And although they have done things worthy of many stripes, yet the law cannot be brought to bear against them, and its penalty be inflicted, because they can plead ignorance thereof. ”

“ We believe that God has raised up this church, in order to prepare a people for his second coming in the clouds of heaven, in power, and great glory; and that then the saints who are asleep in their graves will be raised, and reign with him on earth a thousand years. ”

“ To trust to the decisions of fallible man, and build his hopes upon the same without any certainty and knowledge, of his own, would not satisfy the anxious desires that pervaded his breast. To decide, without any positive and definite evidence on which he could rely, upon a subject involving the future welfare of his soul, was revolting to his feelings. ”

“ It is he that filleth the hearts of men with evil, to walk in darkness and blaspheme God; and you may learn from henceforth that his ways are to destruction, but the way of holiness is peace and rest. You cannot at this time obtain this record, for the commandment of God is strict, and if ever these sacred things are obtained, they must be by prayer and faithfulness in obeying the Lord. "They are not deposited here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth for the glory of this world; they were sealed by the prayer of faith, and because of the knowledge which they contain. ”

“ No man can obtain them if his heart is impure, because they contain that which is sacred." * * * "By them will the Lord work a great and marvelous work, the wisdom of the wise shall become as naught, and the understanding of the prudent shall be hid, and because of the power of God shall be displayed, those who profess to know the truth, but walk in deceit, shall tremble with anger ”

“ And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shal rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. ”

“ At the same time, being expressly informed, that it must be done with an eye single to the glory of God, that no one could be entrusted with those sacred writings who should endeavor to aggrandize himself, by converting sacred things to unrighteous and speculative purposes. ”

“ But remember this: if you are faithful and shall hereafter continue to keep the commandments of the Lord, you shall be preserved to bring these things forth, for in due time he will give you a commandment to come and take them. "When they are interpreted, the Lord will give the hold priesthood to some, and they shall begin to proclaim this gospel and baptize by water. And after that they shall have power to give the Holy Ghost by the laying on of their hands. Then will persecution rage more and more; for the iniquities of men shall be revealed. ”

“ The first nation, or Jaredites, were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principle nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remaining remnant, having dwindled into an uncivilized state, still continue to inhabit the land, although divided into a "multitude of nations" and are called by Europeans as the "American Indians." ”

“ If thou canst cause repentance, or baptism in water, or any of thine own works, to atone for the least of thy transgressions, then thou canst deliver thyself from the awful penalty that awaits thee. But, be assured, O sinner, that thou canst not devise any way of thine own to escape, nor do any thing that will atone for thy sins. ”

“ And those who are not built upon the Rock will seek to overthrow the church. But it will increase the more opposed and spread farther and farther, increasing in knowledge till they shall be sanctified and receive an inheritance where the glory of God will rest upon them. ”

“ That the second condition is, to repent, that is, all who believe, according to the first condition, are required to come humbly before God, and confess their sins with a broken heart and contrite spirit, and to turn away from them, and cease from all their evil deeds, and make restitution to all they have in any way injured, as far as it is in their power. ”

“ And raised a man from the dead and showed forth his power in their midst. And expounded the Scriptures, which had been given from the beginning down to that time, and made known unto them all things which should take place down until He should come in his glory, and form that time down to the end, when all people, nations, and languages should stand before God to be judged, and the heaven and the earth should pass away and there should be a new heaven and new earth. ”

“ They are of no worth among the children of men, only for their knowledge. "On them is contained the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as it was given to his people on this land, and when it shall be brought forth by the power of God, it shall be carried to the Gentiles, of whom many will receive it, and after will the seed of Israel be brought into the fold of their Redeemer by obeying it also. ”

“ He now saw that if he inquired of God, there was not only a possibility but a probability, yea more a certainty, that he should obtain a knowledge which of all the doctrines was the doctrine of Christ, and which of all the church was a church of Christ. He, therefore, retired to a secret place, in a grove but a short distance from his father's house, and knelt down and began to call upon the Lord. ”

“ And the Nephites began to prosper in the land, according to their righteousness, and they multiplied and spread forth to the east, and west, and north; building large villages and cities, synagogues and temples, together with forts and towers and fortifications, to defend themselves against their enemies. ”

“ They are then required to be humble, to be meek and lowly in heart, to watch and pray, to deal justly; and inasmuch as they have the niches riches of this world, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, according to the dictates of wisdom and prudence ”

“ Cultivating the earth for a livelihood was his occupation, in which employed the most of his time. His advantages, for acquiring literary knowledge, were exceedingly small; hence, his education was limited to a slight acquaintance with two or three of the common branches of learning. ”

“ For tends of thousands were very frequently slain, after which they were piled together in great heaps upon the face of the ground and covered with a shallow covering of earth, which will satisfactorily account for those ancient mounds, filled with human bones, so numerous at the present day both in North and South America.
The second colony, which left Jerusalem eleven years after the remnant of Joseph left that city, landed in North America and emigrated from thence, to the north pars of South America ”

“ We believe that wherever the people enjoy the religion of the New Testament, there they enjoy visions, revelations, the ministry of angels, &c. And that wherever these blessings cease to be enjoyed, there they also cease to enjoy the religion of the New Testament . ”

“ They also raised numerous flocks of domestic animals and became a very wealthy people, having abundance gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, &c. Arts and sciences flourished to a great extent. Various kinds of machinery were in use. Cloths of various kinds were manufactured. Swords, scimitars, axes, and various implements of war were made, together with head shields, arm shields, and breastplates, to defend themselves in battle with their enemies. And in the days of their righteousness, they were a civilized, enlightened, and happy people. ”

“ How far below the surface these records were (anciently) placed, I am unable to say. But from the fact that they had been some fourteen hundred years buried, and that too on the side of a hill so steep, one is ready to conclude that they were some feet below, as the earth would naturally wear more or less in that length of time. But they, being placed toward the top of the hill, the ground would not remove as much as two-thirds, perhaps. ”

“ That same Jesus, who hath atoned for the original sin, and will redeem all mankind from the penalty thereof, hath also atoned for thy sins, and offereth salvation and deliverance to thee, on certain conditions to be complied with on thy part. ”

“ Many prophets were raised up among them from generation to generation, who testified against the wickedness of the people and prophesied of judgments and calamities which awaited them, if they did not repent. ”

“ However, on this point, I shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion and form is own speculation." But suffice to say "a hole of sufficient depth was dug. At the bottom of this was laid a stone of suitable size, the upper surface being smooth. At each edge was placed a large quantity of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of this stone, were placed erect four others: their bottom edges resting in the cement, at the outer edges of the first stone. ”

“ Those who kept the commandments of the Lord on this land, desired this at his hand and through the prayer of faith obtained the promise, that if their descendants should transgress and fall away, that a record should be kept, and in the last days come ot their children. ”